A History of the Americas from 1789-1861

In 1789, the U.S. Constitution--a document written and agreed upon by delegates from all of the colonies--was ratified.



The original 13 colonies had agreed to come together as one country.

But by 1861, just seventy years later, the country was at war with itself in a conflict that would kill more Americans than all other wars combined.

How did this happen?